Frederick l



(No Model.)

F. L'. JOHNSON.

TOP.

Patented Aug. 10, 1886.

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NiTEo STATES FREDERICK L. JOHNSON, OF \VALLINGFORD, CONNECTICUT.

TOP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 346,921, dated August 10, 1886.

Application filed October 2-2, 1885. Serial No. 180,648.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, FREDERICK L. J OHNSON,

a citizen of the United States, residing at \Vallingford, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Toys, of which the following is a specification, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to toys; and it has for its object to provide an article of this character which will be instructive as well as amusing, these combined characteristics being seldom possessed by the class of toys on the market at the present time.

Vith this object in View the said invention consists in certain details of construction and combinations of parts, as will be hereinafter set forth, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents my toy in use. Fig. 2 is a detail perspective View of the disk or plate. Fig. 3 is a detail view of the form of top which may be used in connection with the disk or' plate when the ordinary top, which is spun by 'a string, is not employed. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section through the disk or plate.

Like letters are used to designate corresponding parts in'the several figures.

Referring to the drawings, A designates a circular disk or plate, which is adapted to fit in the hollow or palm of the hand. This plate is depressed in the center, being concave-convex in cross-section, and has its outer edge or rim flanged or turned down to provide a hearing for the plate within the hand. The outer or upper face of the disk or plate is divided into a series of spaces, which are numbered, as shown in the drawings,-or letters may be employed to distinguish the various divisions. An elastic band, B, has its end secured to the flanged rim of the plate, and is adapted to hold the same firmly in position within the palm of the hand.

In operation the child may employ a common form of top, which is spun by a string. The disk or plate being fitted in position by passing the elastic band or strap around the hand of the operator, the top is spun on the walk,and while spinning may be taken up on to the hand, the disk or plate receiving the top (No model.)

and allowing it to continue the spinning movement.

The manner of taking the top from the walk while spinning onto the hand is well understood by any boy who has had any experience in spinning'tops. Ordinarily a top does-not spin long in the hand, as is well known; but by providing a concave plate the top is enabled to continue the spinning movement without any apparent decrease by the transfer of the top from the walk to the hand. Theplate causes the top to spin longer than has been the case heretofore. WVhen the top ceases spinning, it assumes a horizontal position, so as to rest on one of the spaces having the designating numerals or letters before mentioned, and the particular numeral or letter of the space on which the top rests is to be taken note of in deciding who has won the game. When numerals are employed, they are to be added together, and the sum total of each player is to be reckoned up in determining which of the players has the greatest score.

In Fig. 3 I have shown a form of top which is to be spun by the hand by resting its point on the concaved plate and giving its upper end a sufficient number of turns to impart a vertical rotary movement. WVhen the top ceases spinning, it drops over on one side, the upper end resting on one of the spaces, and the game is decided in a manner similar to that before described. This particular form of top, as shown in Fig. 3, has special advantage in its use with the plate, since its upper end, which projectssome distance from the ball-shaped body, wi-llstrike the rim of the plate and hold the top from moving until the numeral orlctter of the space of the hand more readily and not be caused to slip from its position. The elasticband allows the plate to be readily adjusted on the hand and removed in a moments time.

The toy can be manufactured at a very low cost, the plate being sold either with or without the top.

I am aware that sail'makers use in their business of sewing the canvas sails a plate which is termed a palm, said plate fitting in the palm of thehand and attached by astrap in position. This plate or palm is used to thrust or push the needle through the canvas.

Having described my invention, I claim- 1. The plate provided with an elastic band to attach the same to the hand, as set forth.

2. The plate provided with means for attaching the same to the hand,and having a series of numbers or letters on one face, as set forth.

3. The concave or depressed plate provided with a flexible band or strap for attaching the same to the hand, and numerals or letters around the edge of the plate on one face thereof, as set forth.

4. A plate concaved to fit the palm of the 20,

FREDERICK L. JOHNSON.

Witnesses:

HENRY MARTIN, A. P. MARTIN. 

